Professor Named Senior Member of National Academy of Inventors

Dr. Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been named a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Voit, co-founder and CEO of Adaptive3D, is one of 95 academic inventors who was recognized as part of the 2023 class of senior members at the academy’s annual meeting on June 25-27, 2023, in Washington, D.C. NAI senior members are faculty, scientists and administrators whose successes in patents, licensing and commercialization have produced technologies that have brought or aspire to impact to society.

“The NAI honor is a recognition of the hard work that
hundreds of people across the UTD ecosystem and the startup ecosystem have contributed to these efforts.”

Dr. Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06
Associate professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

Through his research at UT Dallas and his spinoff company, Voit developed specialized plastic and rubber materials manufactured through additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. The tough, flexible materials have been used in a variety of products in industries ranging from footwear to aerospace to cushioning in consumer goods.

In 2021, Adaptive3D was acquired by Desktop Metal, an additive manufacturing company based in Burlington, Massachusetts. Desktop Metal merged with Stratasys Ltd. in May 2023 in a $1.8 billion deal to form one of the industry’s largest additive manufacturing companies.

Voit, an inaugural Eugene McDermott Scholar who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science, said he is thankful for the support he has received from UTD, including assistance from the Venture Development Center to launch his company, as well as guidance on intellectual property and licensing from the Office of Research and Innovation.

“The NAI honor is a recognition of the hard work that hundreds of people across the UTD ecosystem and the startup ecosystem have contributed to these efforts,” Voit said. “The University has built a rigorous intellectual ecosystem where good ideas can make it to society and make a difference.”

Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, said the primary responsibility of tenure-system faculty is to advance basic and fundamental research.

“However, as part of the innovation ecosystem, we need some alumni and faculty who can envision and enact the commercialization of their research to take it from basic and fundamental to applied and impactful,” said Adams, holder of the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and a professor of systems engineering. “Walter has the uncanny ability to do that, and while we value all contributions, our students, faculty, institutions and society could benefit from a few more Walters.”

“As part of the innovation ecosystem, we need some alumni and faculty who can envision and enact the commercialization of their research to take it from basic and fundamental to applied and impactful.”

Dr. Stephanie G. Adams
Dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science

Expanding entrepreneurship and commercialization programs is a key part of the economic engine initiative in the University’s Strategic Plan. Voit’s research has resulted in multiple patents and licensing agreements that produce revenue for UT Dallas.

“We’ve been able to demonstrate several mechanisms where this intellectual property is making a difference in people’s lives today,” Voit said. “When the stars align and some of these ideas make it out, there are mechanisms that can continue to subsidize and de-risk the next generation of great ideas.

“Hopefully, there’s much more to come for UTD. The ecosystem is thriving.”